DOC Trial Manager

Position Overview

The DOC Trial Manager plays a critical role in the quality assurance and performance monitoring pipeline of our poultry production. Based in Kampala, this position is responsible for overseeing the brooding and intensive monitoring of sample chick cohorts from every hatchery batch at a dedicated trial farm.

The primary objective is to evaluate first-week performance, track mortality rates, and provide accurate, timely data that reflects the quality of our Day-Old Chicks (DOCs). This role acts as a vital bridge between hatchery outputs and field performance, reporting directly to the Production Manager.

Key Details

Job Title:DOC Trial Manager

Location: Kampala, Uganda (Trial Farm Site)

Reports To:Production Manager

Department:Production

Key Responsibilities

1. Trial Setup & Brooding Management

• Pre-heat the brooding house 24 to 48 hours prior to chick arrival to ensure the concrete floor, litter, and ambient air reach the exact target temperature required for immediate chick comfort.
• Calibrate and test all feeding, drinking, and heating equipment before the delivery of each batch to prevent any failures during critical early hours.
• Ensure optimal stocking density, feeder space, and drinker allocation are precisely calculated and arranged based on the specific size of the incoming sample cohort.
• Implement a structured “chick comfort zone” layout using chick guards to prevent draft exposure, minimize huddling, and guide birds toward heat and water sources.
• Manage the crop fill assessment protocol at 8, 12, and 24 hours post-placement to evaluate how quickly and effectively the chicks are finding feed and water.
• Establish and monitor a strict lighting schedule, including necessary dark periods, to promote early physiological development, rest, and melatonin production.
• Control ventilation rates dynamically to maintain optimal air quality, balancing the removal of carbon dioxide and ammonia with the preservation of critical brooding temperatures.
• Oversee the bio-security gatekeeping for the trial facility, including mandatory footbaths, vehicle disinfection, and shower-in protocols to guarantee a sterile testing environment.
• Supervise the meticulous cleaning, washing, and disinfection of the entire trial house and equipment during the downperiod between successive batch trials.

2. Data Collection, System Management & Reporting

• Record daily feed intake, water consumption, minimum/maximum brooding temperatures, and exact mortality counts by batch and parent stock source flock.
• Conduct individual and bulk weighing at Day 0 (arrival) and Day 7 to calculate exact Average Daily Gain (ADG) and 7-day body weight (BW) multiples.
• Calculate flock uniformity percentages at the end of the first week to assess the consistency of the batch, ensuring variations remain within strict breed standards.
• Ensure all daily trial data is synced into the P3 production system within established daily cut-off times to maintain real-time visibility for the broader production team.
• Routinely cross-reference P3 system outputs with physical field logs to detect, troubleshoot, and correct any data entry errors or system sync glitches immediately.
• Serve as the gatekeeper for the trial farm’s P3 profile, ensuring batch numbers, hatchery transfer codes, and breed identifiers are perfectly aligned with official hatchery release documentation.
• Maintain and update master Excel tracking sheets, utilizing robust formulas to calculate critical KPIs like First-Week Mortality (FWM) %, Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR), and performance against breed targets.
• Map trial performance data against specific hatchery variables (e.g., incubator/hatcher numbers, egg storage duration, chick holding times, and Parent Stock age) to help isolate root causes of performance drops.
• Organize data structures within Excel to allow for seamless rolling-trend analysis across multiple consecutive hatches and seasons.
• Flag any sudden spikes in 24-to-48-hour mortality or severe drops in feed intake to the Production Manager immediately, rather than waiting for the end of the trial cycle.
• Compile and submit a comprehensive First-Week Trial Summary Report within 48 hours of trial completion, translating raw P3 and Excel data into actionable operational insights.
• Prepare monthly comparative data reviews illustrating which breeder flocks or hatchery batches yielded the highest-performing chicks, supporting data-driven decision-making for the production and veterinary teams.

3. Flock Health & Diagnostics

• Execute scheduled first-week vaccination protocols (such as Newcastle Disease or Infectious Bronchitis) via drinking water or spray, carefully recording dosage, batch numbers, and administration times.
• Perform routine post-mortem examinations (necropsies) on all daily mortalities to accurately differentiate between hatchery-born issues (e.g., omphalitis/yolk sac infection, mushy chick disease) and farm-level factors (e.g., dehydration, starvation, or smothering).
• Monitor chick behavior, activity levels, and vocalizations continuously to detect early indicators of thermal discomfort, stress, or onset of clinical disease.
• Inspect chick physical traits upon arrival, including naval healing quality, hock color, and beak formation, to establish a baseline health score for each incoming batch.
• Collect and package diagnostic samples (such as organ impressions, cecal tonsils, or water samples) for laboratory analysis when unusual mortality spikes or health issues occur.
• Enforce strict quarantine and sanitation routines between different batch trials to prevent the horizontal transmission of pathogens across consecutive groups.
• Assess and log litter quality and moisture levels daily to prevent early respiratory irritation, footpad dermatitis, or ammonia buildup.
• Maintain a detailed health and treatment log book, documenting any supportive therapies, vitamins, or electrolyte interventions administered during the 7-day brooding period

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Data Accuracy & Timeliness: 100% compliance with daily data entry deadlines into the P3 system and Excel sheets.
• Biosecurity Adherence: Zero cross-contamination incidents across different trial batches.
• Trial Integrity:Accurate execution of brooding protocols ensuring trial results genuinely reflect chick quality rather than management errors.
• Reporting Quality: Detailed, insightful feedback on first-week mortality root causes within 48 hours of trial completion.

Job Qualifications & Experience

• Education & Experience; Bachelor’s Degree or Diploma in Veterinary Medicine, Animal Production, Agriculture, or a closely related animal science field.
• Fresh graduates are encouraged to apply who have an interest in poultry management, with a strong emphasis on brooding, breeder farm, or hatchery operations.
• A demonstrated interest in research trials, data collection, and evidence-based decision-making in livestock production is highly desirable.

Technical & Soft Skills

• Technical Proficiency: Strong understanding of early-stage chick physiology, brooding dynamics, and poultry pathology.
• Data Literacy: Proficient in using digital production management software (experience with P3 or similar ERP systems is a distinct advantage).
• Spreadsheet Skills:Advanced intermediate capability in Microsoft Excel / Google Sheets for data entry, formula usage, and basic reporting.
• Attention to Detail: Meticulous record-keeping habits; a passion for accuracy.
• Analytical Thinking:Ability to look at mortality and weight data, identify trends, and deduce underlying operational or biological causes.
• Communication:Strong written and verbal communication skills for reporting to senior management and collaborating with hatchery teams.

Equal Opportunity Employer: Uzima Chicken is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees, women and other diverse candidates  are encouraged to apply.

How to Apply: Please submit your resume and a cover letter detailing your qualifications and interest in this position to careers.ug@uzimachicken.com. We look forward to reviewing your application.

Deadline: 17th June 2026